Chapter 3: The Outcome of the Incident and a Friend’s Proposal
“So—they told you it was a mistaken engagement proposal and asked to withdraw it?”
The one who said this with exasperation was Vivian Morgan, daughter of a marquis, and practically Claudia’s only friend among the nobility.
“Yes, that’s right. Father was stunned, but he accepted it quite easily in exchange for compensation. Well, I don’t mind at all.”
Claudia didn’t understand why her father had been so taken aback, but to her, it was an expected—rather, obvious—outcome.
If anything, she was grateful they had withdrawn it.
Vivian gave a wry smile.
“You really never change. Well then, how about my brother?”
“My brother said something similar.”
Though her brother had phrased it more like he was trying to push her onto him.
Their brothers were the same age, had attended boarding school together, and were close friends who could speak freely with one another.
Of course, her brother must have been joking.
Claudia could never fulfill the role of Ernest’s wife—the future marchioness.
Her brother understood that as well.
“But Lord Ernest already has a fiancée, doesn’t he?”
“Oh, that? It’s been called off.”
That was news to her.
Although she was out of touch with rumors due to staying in her territory, it was still the kind of information that wouldn’t have been strange for her to hear.
Her brother must have known.
That was why he had been able to say something like pushing her onto him.
She thought he could have told her at the time, but if she complained, he would only say it was her fault for not asking.
“Oh my, why?”
Even from Claudia’s perspective, Vivian’s brother Ernest was an excellent man.
Their families were well matched in status, so it was hard to imagine anything that would lead to a broken engagement.
“It’s because of his workaholic nature. He worked too much, neglected his fiancée, and she lost patience with him. So it’s perfect timing, isn’t it?”
That made sense.
Ernest’s only real flaw was his workaholism.
But from Claudia’s point of view, she couldn’t understand what was wrong with being a workaholic.
They were probably similar in that regard.
“I don’t need to force myself to marry. I could just stay quietly tucked away in a corner of the territory.”
When she said that, her younger sister had replied, “Then only you would enjoy yourself, Sister. You would just do as you please and increase the territory’s revenue… no, your personal assets.”
Their parents had promised the three siblings that anything they increased using their personal funds could be counted as their own income.
That was why her brother and sister also earned income in their own ways and grew their personal assets.
She did, of course, contribute back to the territory.
And she also set aside and managed a portion separately as a reserve for times when the people might suffer from disasters or famine.
“This time, they said I could use all the compensation—well, not compensation, the consolation money—however I like, and there’s something I want.”
Vivian looked at her with exasperation.
“That’s exactly why you’re called a shut-in noble lady or the phantom lady.”
That title didn’t quite suit her.
She simply pursued whatever caught her interest at the time with complete sincerity.
But precisely because of that, she was never chosen as a marriage partner.
No household would want a wife who ignored social duties and family responsibilities to do as she pleased.
For Claudia as well, being told to give up what she loved in order to socialize and manage household affairs would be nothing but suffering.
That was why she didn’t need to marry.
If she were considered a disgrace to the family, she was always ready to retire quietly to a remote corner of the territory.
Fortunately, none of her family treated her coldly for it.
“What part of me makes me a shut-in, I wonder?”
“Because you retreat to your territory at every opportunity.”
“It’s not just me, you know.”
That was right—there were plenty of other noble ladies who stayed in their territories and rarely appeared at social gatherings.
She thought it wasn’t particularly unusual, but she had never met anyone who agreed with her.
Vivian let out a long sigh.